“Do you love me?”
John 21:15-19
A New Year. A Fresh Start. Blank pages in your calendar waiting to be filled. 2023 is only three days old and holds so much promise for the remaining 362 days!
It was a time of new beginnings for Christ’s followers, as well.
The disciples had spent about three and a half years with Jesus. They had walked and talked with Him, listened as He preached to the multitudes, observed His interactions with the religious leaders. They were instructed by Him and they saw Him perform astonishing miracles. They listened as He prayed. And they had watched from a distance as their leader – their Messiah – was cruelly hung on a cross. They knew He had risen from the dead – they had seen the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ. They knew that the promised Counselor Comforter was coming, but there was so much more that they did not know.
For one disciple in particular, the uncertainty of not knowing what was next was almost unbearable because of the added weight of guilt that he was carrying.
During Jesus’ arrest when the other disciples had scattered, Peter had followed at a distance behind Jesus and His captors. Then in the Temple courtyard, Peter had denied Jesus three times (John 18:15-27, Luke 22:54-62, Mark 14:66-72, Matthew 26:69-74) – just as Jesus had told him that he would (Matthew 26:30-35, Mark 14:26-31, Mark 22:31-34). Scripture tells us that a crowing rooster reminded Peter of Jesus’ words and he (Peter) “went out and wept bitterly.”
In last week’s blog “Reflections At Year’s End,” I asked you to the reflect on 2022 to remember the blessings of the year and the various ways that God worked in your life during the year. When you look backwards, it’s hard not to be reminded of the failures, missteps, sins, and spiritual shortfalls that have happened in the past year – even when you are looking specifically for the good and positive.
Friend don’t drag your baggage from 2022 into the New Year. If you have confessed those failings and sins, God has not only forgiven, but He has also forgotten those sins.
God says, “I, I am HE who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25
“I formed you; you are My servant…you will not be forgotten by Me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:21b-22
If you have anything that has not been confessed and repented of, I urge you to stop right now to ask for God’s cleansing forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Now let’s return to Peter’s story. After Christ’s resurrection, Peter is still in the mix – he’s still with the disciples, but he seems subdued – quieter. In his uncertainty of what comes next and perhaps even insecurity in his relationship with Jesus because of his denials, Peter returned to what he knew. After inviting the other disciples to join him, Peter went fishing.
At daybreak, the fishermen were returning to the shore empty-handed when a man called out to them from the shore; he told them to cast their net to the right side of the boat. Thinking they had nothing to lose, they did, and amazingly their net was so full they couldn’t pull it in. John immediately recognized that it was Jesus and said so. On hearing that it was their Lord, Peter jumped out of the boat and began splashing his way towards Jesus, leaving the others to row the boat to shore dragging the bulging net behind them.
Once on shore, they gathered around Jesus and the fire He had built; together they ate the breakfast of fish and bread that He had made for His disciples. Afterward, Jesus steered Peter away from the group for a private conversation. If I had been Peter, my heart would have sunk sure that Jesus was going to chastise me for my denials and desertion.
But instead of calling Peter on the carpet, Jesus asked Peter three questions:
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”
“He (Peter) said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.’”
“He (Jesus) said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
“He (Jesus) said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“He (Peter) said to Him, Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.”
“He (Jesus) said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’”
“He (Jesus) said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and he (Peter) said to Him, ‘LORD, You know everything; You know that I love you.” Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
(John 21:1-19)
Instead of reproving Peter or giving him a “to do” list or “resolutions” for the new season of service that the disciples were about to enter, Jesus simply asked,
“do you love Me?”
More than anything else…do you love Me?
“Follow Me.”
Friend, we can become so burdened and buried in our good resolutions that we forget the most important focus, not only of this year, but of our life – more than anything or anyone else – who do you love?
Jesus’ relationship-restoring and love-affirming conversation with Peter was so simple:
Love Jesus. Follow (Obey) Him.
That should be our Resolution for 2023! Love Jesus. Obey Him.
Everything else flows out of love and obedience. Life’s goals and priorities will fall in line if you are loving your Savior above all others and living in obedience to your God.
“If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“What does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Deuteronomy 10:12
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3